Umbrella frame



March 2, 1937.. w. s. EVANS 2,072,254

UMBRELLA FRAME I Filed June 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR March 2,1937-.

W. s. EVANS UMBRELLA FRAME Filed June 19, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 i4 a lI INVENTOR- Wiz yne 51E 7'63 715,

BY WWW ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 2, 1937 PATENT OFFICE V 2,012,254 UMBRELLAFRAME Wayne S. Evans, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to S. W. Evans & Son,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 19,1935, Serial No. 27,333

5 Claims.

5': tions of fabric with which the frame is ultimately covered.

Another object is more particularly to provide for halving the usualnumber of ribs in a standard frame, and thereby lightening its weight 1and cost of construction, but without decreasing the required degree ofstrength inherent in the frame. In fact, it has been found that a singleprimary rib or rib section adjacent to the axis of the frame can takethe place of as many as 15 three or even four of the usual type of ribsnow used in the average umbrella frame.

Thus, a standard sixteen-rib frame can be equally well constructed withbut eight or even with as few as four primary ribs, with each of suchribs being provided respectively with two or four divergently branchingsecondary or terminal sections. Again, an ordinary fifteen-rib frame maybe made with but fiveprimary ribs, and a so-called twelve-rib frame withonly six or even four primary ribs, in which latter case each suchprimary rib is provided respectively with two or three terminalsections, as the case may be. In any such case, the radially inner orprimary section of the rib may be as short as desired, instead of beingsubstantially one-half of the length of the entire rib unit as shown inthe drawings. Thus, with such a substantial decrease in the number ofprimary ribs, the circumferences and therefore the diameters of the al-5 most inevitable "notc and the runner elements of the frame aredecreased, andthe overall thickness or bulk of the resulting completeumbrella is correspondingly lessened.

A further object is to provide a simple form 0 of construction forcarrying into practice the general object above stated, and this may beaccomplished in several ways, as hereinafter described. Broadly,however, the improved rib unit in any caseis to a large degree ofsubstantially Y-shape or similar when extended to the arrangement of thestem and ribs of a palm leaf, and may for instance be formed (1) of asingle rigid primary section to which are secured a pair of divergentwire sections, or.(2) of two 0 wires or ribbons secured togetherthroughout a portion of their lengths to provide a primary section, andbranch terminal sections which diverge with respect to each othertowards their opposite ends, or (3) a single solid rib through- 5 outthe length of the primary section, sheared throughout the remainder ofits length to pro-v vide diverging terminal sections, or (4) any one ofthese constructions with one, two, or more terminal sections securedbetween saidfirst terminal sections, so as to provide more than a pairof divergent terminal sections for a single primary section.

Still more detailed objects comprise the reverse bending or other mannerof shaping one of the rib sections, so as to provide an integral hingemember for connection of the usual stretcher to the rib unit, instead ofhaving to add such hinge as an initially separate member; the provisionof a sectional cover the seams of which coincide with the terminal orbranch sections of each rib unit, and to provide other details ofconstruction and operation as will hereinafter appear.

With the objects of the invention thus broadly stated, the saidinvention further comprises additional details, such as are hereinafterfully brought out in the following description, when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which 1 Fig. 1 is a top plan view ofan umbrella rib unit showing one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a fragmentary portion of an umbrella,showing a sectional cover operatively stretched across the several ribunits, which latter are shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of an umbrella cover, a portion ofwhich is shaded with flat black, in order to contrast with thegusset-like inserts of contrasting color, material, or even of the samematerial;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the axial portion of anumbrella frame;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing one complete rib unitand stretcher, operatively assembled upon the usual shaft or rod;

Fig. ,7 is a plan view of a modified form of a rib unit;

a Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a further modified form of rib unit;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view on the line lflll'l of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of another modified form of rib unit;

. Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional View on the line l2- -l2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a still further modified form of rib unit;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional View on the line ll-l l of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing the hingeconnection between the rib unit of Fig. 13 and the usual stretcher of anumbrella frame;

Fig. 16 is a plan View of a portion of an umbrella frame covered in theusual manner and illustrating by dotted lines the use of ribunitscomprising three terminal sections, each; and

Fig. 17 is a similar View showing the use of rib units comprising fourterminal sections, each.

With reference to the drawings, it is to be understood that by reason ofthe relative thinness or narrowness of the elements of which theumbrella ribs are formed, it has been found necessary to exaggerate thewidth or thickness of each of these parts in many cases, in order tosatisfactorily illustrate them for reproduction purposes, as otherwisethe lines would-be so close together as to cause them to merge or becomeblurred.

Referring to Figs 1 to 6, there is here shown a rib unit comprising anormally radially inwardly directed relatively rigid primary section Iof substantially U-shaped cross section, and at one end 2 beingcontracted or pinched and apertured to provide for the well known typeof hinge connection to the so-called notch or fixed annular hinge member3, which is secured in any suitable manner to the rod 4. Such a rib unitis further more connected in the usual manner to the rod 4 thru themedium of a stretcher I the outer end of which is connected to the ribthru the usual hinge member l while its inner end is connected to thesaid rod thru the annular hinge connection I slidable thereon.

The normally outer or freely extending end portion of said primary ribsection 'I in this instance receives the inner adjacent end portions ofa pair of relatively flexible wire terminal sections 5, which extend insubstantially parallel relation with each other when the umbrella frameis in closed or collapsed position, but which terminal sections areadapted to separate and angularly diverge, as shown in Figs. 1 and-3,when the umbrella is in extended or open position. In a completeumbrella comprising a set of these improved rib units, the cover 6 issecured in the usual manner to the rib units, and comprises the means orforce by which the terminal rib sections are distorted as shown. Whileit has ever been the practice to divide the sectors of the usualumbrella cover along the lines defined by the usual radially extendingone-piece ribs, the present invention comprises the additional cuttingaway of said cover sectors, somewhat similar to the sectors indicated bythe solid black portions 1, so as to provide between each pair ofadjacent sectors a V- shaped gusset-like panel 8, the seams which joinsaid panel to said pair of sectors following substantially the linesdefinedby the relatively flexible terminal sections 5 of the improvedrib unit.

Referring to Figs. '7 and 8, there is here shown a modified form of ribunit comprising a pair of initially flexible wires In, which are securedtogether throughout any desired portion .of their common extent, toprovide a primary relatively rigid rib section II, one end of which isformed in any suitable manner, so as to provide a hinge connecting endl2, while the opposite end portions of said wires are adapted toangularly diverge in the form of relatively flexible terminal sectionsl3. One method of uniting the firstmentioned portions of said wires isby means of one or more bands I 4, in addition to the usual stretcherconnecting hinge member 65, but the method of securing said rib elementstogether does not comprise a part of the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10, there is here shown a pair of initiallyseparate lengths of flexible strips or wires in ribbon-like form, whichare secured together throughout a given portion of their common parallelextent by any suitable means as for instance the band M as hereinbeforereferred to, to provide a relatively rigid primary section ll, having ahinge connection H3 at one end, and at their opposite ends being adaptedto flex divergently outwardly as a pair of relatively flexible terminalsections I9. These terminal sections when using ribbon-like wires orstrands tend to flex only in their common plane, but will flex slightlylaterally of such plane, under the tension imparted thereto by theumbrella cover when in extended position, and in such case terminalsections of such cross section tend to warp or twist slightly as shownin Figs. 9, 11 and 13.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, there is here shown a solid preferablyrectangular strip of metal homogeneous and unsevered throughout aportion of its length, to provide a relatively rigid primary rib section20, one end of which is provided with the usual hinge connection 2|,while its opposite end portion is vertically split or sheared in suchmanner as to provide at least a pair of relatively flexible terminalsections 22, but while tending to flex only in their common plane, willas a matter of fact warp and flex slightly to one side of such plane,under the force imparted thereto by the umbrella cover when in stretchedposition.

Referring to Figs. 13 to 17 inclusive, there is here shown a compositerib unit comprising three (or even four or more) strands of initiallyflexible ribbon-like elements, which are secured together throughout agiven portion of their common extent, to provide a relatively rigidprimary section 23, having the usual hinge-connection 24, at one end,and at its opposite end merging into a series of independently flexibleterminal sections 25, which also while tending to flex only in theircommon plane, will flex laterally thereof under the tension of theumbrella cover. In this case, the central element 26 is deflecteddownwardly and reversely upwardly to provide a loop or off-set portion27, which is adapted to form a hinge connection for the adjacent endportion 28 of the usual stretcher 29, which construction eliminates thenecessity heretofore practiced of applying to the rib unit an initiallyseparate hinge member.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific formswithout departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and Itherefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not descriptive, reference being had to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An umbrella rib, comprising a plurality of initially flexible wireelements, secured together throughout a portion of their common extent,to provide a relatively rigid primary section and a plurality ofrelatively flexible terminal sections.

2. An umbrella rib, comprising a plurality of initially flexibleelements of ribbon-like form,

secured together throughout only a portion of their common extent, toprovide a relatively rigid primary section, and a plurality of terminalsections restricted to flex primarily in their common plane.

3. An umbrella rib, comprising a plurality of initially flexible wireelements, secured together throughout only a portion of their commonextent, to provide a primary rib section and a plurality of relativelyflexible terminal sections, one of said elements being formed to providean offset portion, operative to form a hinge connection for the usualspreader.

4. An umbrella rib, comprising a plurality of initiallyflexible'elements of ribbon-like form, secured together throughout onlya portion 01.

their common extent, to provide a relatively rigid primary section and aplurality of terminal sections restricted to flex primarily in theircommon plane, one of said elements being formed to provide an offsetportion, operative to form a hinge connection for the usual spreader.

5. An umbrella rib, comprising a plurality of initially flexibleelements, secured together throughout only a portion of their commonextent, to provide a primary rib section and a plurality of relativelyflexible terminal sections, one of said elements being bent andreversely bent to provide a lateral ofiset portion, operative to form ahinge connection for the usual spreader.

WAYNE S. EVANS.

